Mental Health Diagnosis: What Does it Mean For You?
Seeking out mental health care is meant to be a supportive process that aids you in finding a path towards wellness. As a part of this process your clinician will primarily guide treatment based off of a diagnosis. This diagnosis is not meant to be a determination of failure or negativity but to more efficiently describe what you are working on. It is a descriptor of symptoms not of personal value. Below will be an overview of what a diagnosis is, why it is used, who can use them, what kinds there are, and how to talk with your clinician about them. The hope is that you will feel more comfortable and confident in navigating your mental healthcare.
What a Diagnosis is
When you work with a mental health professional you will likely be diagnosed with a condition that describes the group of symptoms you are experiencing. The title used for that particular group of symptoms, within the context of a specific individual’s circumstance and history, is called a diagnosis. These diagnoses are then organized by similar groupings of symptoms into a text which in the U.S. is the DSM-5-TR or Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders while elsewhere in the world clinicians use the ICD-10 or International Classification of Diseases. These texts are constantly being reviewed and revised to be as up-to-date as possible for accurate analysis and treatment of mental health challenges with a new edition being published on average about every 15 years.
The Purpose of Diagnosis
Standardization of terms and symptom clusters serves the ultimate goals of providing efficient and accurate treatment. By defining and categorizing symptoms, clinicians can more easily study and develop evidence-based treatments for conditions. Additionally, diagnosis can help with communication of personal experience by creating a shared language relevant to mental health differences between people. In doing so, some people can find validation of their lived experience through diagnosis because it gives them that language not only to define parts of their lives that seemed different or more challenging but also find support/community with others who have shared lived experience.
Who can Diagnose Mental Health Disorders
Many mental health clinicians are capable of diagnosing but also have varied roles in their treatment. The primary professionals qualified to diagnose include psychologists, psychiatrists, psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners, primary care providers, licensed counselors/therapists, and licensed clinical social workers. They all work together following a diagnosis to give the most robust support possible to any individual.
Types of Diagnosis
There are multiple groupings of diagnosis that help define what someone is needing support with. One of the more commonly seen groups is Mood Disorders which include depression and the bipolar presentations. Similarly common are the anxiety disorders and trauma/stressor related disorders. Further specification of symptoms frequency, type, and severity can result in diagnoses towards the Schizophrenia Spectrum, Psychotic, Dissociative, Personality, and obsessive-compulsive disorders. Finally, in even more specific but not any less important, one may find disorders related to neurodevelopment, neurocognition, somatics, feeding/eating, elimination, sexuality, gender, impulse/conduct control, and substance-use/addiction.
How Diagnosis May Impact You
Diagnosis can be validating, concerning, both, or neither. For most, diagnosis is simply a descriptor of lived experience that does not change their day to day lives beyond informing the focus of treatment. For others it can open doors to new treatments, tools, or support systems at home, school, work, or the community. For others still, it can cause strife between them and those in their social circle who do not believe or care to honor the diagnosis and lifestyle changes you may make. In certain settings it can even lead to limitations of opportunities in profession or hobbies such as the current regulations related to mental health diagnoses in aviation. It is important to be able to talk with your provider about your diagnosis and how it may impact you to build trust and ensure adherence to treatment based on shared clinical goals.
What if I do Not Want a Diagnosis
In certain cases diagnosis may not be necessary if you are seeking mental health support. Settings such as outpatient and with certain symptoms of “lesser severity” can provide a space to explore your concerns without requiring a diagnosis. One important consideration is for any mental health treatment - if you decide to forgo diagnosis - insurance will not cover any services as it is a prerequisite for coverage both with private insurance and social support coverages such as Medicare and Medicaid.
Of course, all mental health clinicians have a professional and ethical obligation to accurately portray the work they are doing and provide sufficient evidence of appropriate care which includes diagnosis when necessary. As such, it is not guaranteed that you can refuse diagnosis if you want to continue with services; and, if you are worried about it for your situation it is always encouraged to speak with the specific professional you are working with in the specific setting you are working with them in.
Conclusion
Obtaining a mental health diagnosis is not meant to be a negative evaluation that denotes personal failure. Rather, it is meant to provide clinical efficiency in a field that benefits greatly from standardized communication about symptoms and guiding evidenced-based treatment. There are many mental health professionals who can help guide you through the process of assessment and diagnosis as well as answer questions/concerns you may have about the specific results you may get.
At RAFT Counseling, we want to support you in pursuing supportive and accurate treatment relevant to your circumstances. If you or a loved one is searching for help in understanding or defining what it is you are struggling with and working towards healing through accurate treatment goals simply visit our website or contact us to get connected and on the path towards more confidence, and ultimately, wellness.
Resources for Further Reading